Fusible-plug mechanism for steam motor-vehicles.



W. G. BLUNDELL. FUSIBLB PLUG MECHANISM FOR STEAM MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAILIQ, 1914v 1,18,6fim Patented Jan.5,1915.

In van 50 3 William 6! Blur: dell,

witnesses,

His vffzorney,

W. G. BLUNDELL.

FUSIBLE PLUG MEOHANISM FOR STEAM MOTOR VEHICLES.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.19,1914.

r 2/ 22 12? we]? (01? Waillz'am 6. 521112 deli,

arm rib" WILLIAM C. BLUND'ELL, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 JAMES M. HULING, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

FUSIBLE-PLUG MECHANISM FGR STEAM MOTOR-VEHICLES. 7

Application filed March m, 1914. Serial No. 826,119.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. BLUN- DELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Fusible-P-lug Mechanism for Steam Motor-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved fusible plug and clean out mechanism for boilers of steam motor vehicles and the objects of my invention are: to provide a mechanism which will facilitate the replacement of the fusible plug after a blow-out; economize in the time necessary for such replacement; has means for indicating the amount of the water in the boiler, for draining ofl" the water and sediment therefrom and cleaning out the assrciated fittings; prevents the freezing of the water in the pipes adjacent to the plug, in cold weather; provides against the loss of steam when a plug has been blown out or withdrawn; provides a connection with the throttle valve of the boiler so that the vehicle is prevented from starting when the clean out and other valves are open; and provides for an improved form of fusible plug mounting.

Still other objects may appear in the following detailed description of my device as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a plan of my deviceas attached to a vehicle; Fig. 2 is a' longitudinal sectional elevation of the fusible plug mounting; Fig. 3 is a section of Fig. 2 on the line ra -a Fig. 1 is a section of Fig. 2 on the line ar w Fig. is a side elevation of my device with the frame of the vehicle in section; Fig. 6 is a lateral sectional elevation on the line cu -00, Fig. 1.

Similar reference numerals indicate the same parts throughout the specification and the several i 'ews of the drawings.

The boiler 1, shown in dotted lines, is suitably mounted on the frame 2 of the vehicle, and is ordinarily provided with a pair of stand pipes 3 and 4, the pipe 3 beingsubstantially longer than the pipe 4, and both Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 55,1915.

of them extending upwardly into the water r which closes the water and steam supply from the boiler; the shorter-pipe 4 is connected by the pipe 7 and suitable fittings with the longitudinally disposed valve 8 for a similar purpose; the valve 8 is also con nected with the pipe 5; and the pipe 5 is provided with a mud drum 9 extending downwardly therefrom and having avalve 10 at the bottom of the drum and a lateral branch 11 with a downwardly turned elbow 12 for draining off the sediment. The fusible plug mounting 13 is adapted to be screwed into a TM on the pipe 5 which is positioned between the valves 8 and 10, and the mounting 13 is composed of .a tube tapered toward the V inner end and having a hexagonal portion near its center for turning t with a wrench A fusible plug of lead or other metal 15 havlng a low melting point isfadapted to be inserted in the inner end of the tube [which is adapted to be melted and blown out of thetube by the force of the steam, when for object which it mayinar, andto' provide against this occurrence I provide a pair of 7 blades 16 adapted to be secured in the wall of the tube at right angles to each other-and across the path of the lead plug, by means of which the plug will'be split into a plurality of pieces so that it may not lodge in the tube; and the outer end of the tube is provided with an elbow 17 which is pivotally held on the tube by a collar 18 adapted to be screwed on the end of the elbow and held onthe tube 13 by means of a pair of ring segments 19 adapted to seat in an annular grocveQO in the tube, the elbow being turned downward in order to direct the piecesof the plug toward the ground in its discharge from the tube 13. Thetube 13 is tapered to prevent the use of but one end for holding the plug, and the elbow bymeans of its pi-v-' otal connection with the tube will be'caused tb swing downwardly by gravity.

The valve stem 21 of the valve 6 which closes the long stand pipe 3 has a cable 22 secured to it which runs over the pulleys 23, 24-, 24' and 25 secured to the frame 2 of the vehicle, is connected on the other end to a spring 26 by means of a collar 27, and between the collar 27 and the pulley 25 passes through an arm 28 on the link 29 of the throttle actuating mechanism, the other end of the spring 26 being suitably secured to a bracket 30 secured to the frame 2. The stem 31 of the valve 8, which closes the short stand pipe 4, has a cable 32 similarly connected to it which runs over the pulleys 33 and 34, passes through the arm 28 and is provided with one of the collars 27 on a spring in line with and similar to the spring 26 onthe other cable 22 The main throttle lever 35 which is parallel with and mounted upon the steering wheel column 36, is connected with the link 29 by the arm 37, and the other end of'the link 29 is connected, by meansof the arm'38, t he verticalshaft 39 and the arm 40, with the throttle valve stem 41- of-the throttle valve 42. Thus, in the event that either one or both of the valves 6 and 8 were left closed, the springs 26 would be extended so that the collars 27 would contact with the arm 28 on the link 29 and prevent the opening of the throttle as long as either one of the valves were closed.

As long as the water in the boiler is above both of the stand pipes 3 and 4:, the water y will circulate through the pipe 5 and the fittings but when the water reaches a point below the top of the shorter stand pipe 4, it will cease to circulate, the pipe and fusible plug 15 will become heated and the latter blown out of the tube 13, the driver will be warned and the fire in the burners put out, thus preventing an explosion in and-damage I to the boiler,

cleaned out.

The sediment from the boiler collects in the mud drum 9 and may be blown 03 and the drum and pipe fittings between the stand pipe-3 and the valve 10 cleaned'out by closing valve 8 and opening valves 6 and 10. Likewise by closing valve 6 and opening valves 8, and 10 all of the fittings between the stand pipe 4 and the valve 10 may be As 'it is frequently the case that the sediment will collect in the pipes and fittings, and thus impede the circulation of the water therein, it is necessary to provide 'against such occurrences, and the mud ;drum 9 of my device is adapted to collect all ofvthe sediment and obviate the frequent cleaning of the pipes. Should the sediment collect in the pipes and the circulation of the water be stopped, the fusible plug 15 would be blown out because of the overheating of the pipes and n'ttings. By closing valve 6 and opening the valves 8 and 10, it is possible to ascertain whether the water in the boiler is above the top of the short pipe 4; and by closing the valve 8 and opening the valves 6 and 10 whether the level of the water is above the long pipe-3. t

Should the fusible plug 15 be blown from any cause whatever, a new plug may be inserted by closing the valves 6 and 8, removing the mounting 13and placing a new plug therein; the valve 10 may be opened and the pipe cleaned out, and the valves restored to their. normal state.

In order to prevent the freezing of the water in the pipes and fittings when the vehicle is not in use in cold weather, by opening the valves 6, 8 and 10, the water will drain out of the pipes and trouble of this nature averted. A loss of steam is prevented while a new plug is being placed in position, by closing the valves 6 and 8 and opening the valve 10.

In general, by the use of the plugs supplied commonly with steam vehicles, a great many difficulties have been encountered, as

the stand pipes 3 and 4 have not been.

equipped withvalves, and as a consequence, it has been impossible to replace a plug without a considerable amount of time being consumed. As my device is fully equipped to meet all conditions which may arise in the operation and use of a steam motor vehicle, it is possible to replace a'plug without putting out the fire in the burners or cooling the boilers, and thereby, not only a great deal of time is saved, but labor as well.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire Letters Patent for, is:

1. A fusible plug mechanism for boilers of steam motor vehicles having a pair of stand pipes of different length extending into the Water chamber of said boiler and connected with the throttle valve of said boiler for preventing the opening thereof when either or both of said stand pipes are closed.

2. A fusible plug mechanism for boilers of steam motor vehicles having a pair of stand pipes ofdifferent length extending intothe water chamber of said boiler and normallycommunicating with each other, and means for connecting said mechanism with the throttle valve on the boiler for preventing theopening thereof when communication between said stand pipes is closed.

3. A fusible plug mechanism for boilers of steam motor vehicles having a pair of stand pipes of different length extending into the water chamber of said boiler and normally communicating with each other by means of a pipe attached to the bottoms and extending out of said boiler,.and means aaaeee in sa d p p fer in epend ntly peni g and l s ng aid, stand Pipes. f om eemniuniea iea Withsaid connecting pipe,

4. A fusible plug mechanism for boilers of steam motor vehicles comprising a fnsie ble plug and a pair of stand pipes of differ} ent ength e t nd g nt th er chamber of the'boiler having means fol-preventing the sediment from the boiler collecting in he p nes. adjac nt to d pl g and c ing the premature discharge of said plug,

5. A fusible plug mechanism tor boilers of steam m ter ve i l h ng a p p ith he. two end e ten in-e pwar y" i td th water chamber of said UQilGI a different height, a s bl Plug se ur in aid pipe I ean f r aning eat th sediment f 'm id, Pipe, and mean r P ev nting h sediment from collecting in said pipe "adja: e nt to id pl g a d causing t e P ematu d harge of a d plus 1 .1 e ev ee f; h heraete de cr b d he em a t on with a bo l r and: a Pair f st nd pipes, o di fer nt ngth e t ndi i te the w te chamber o said. b i r, efa p pe e e t ng an st n p p at, h bet: was: avail? of va ve n said pip s. f r n epend ntly p n ng and lesfing a d tan P p s; a fu ib Plu in Said P p between sa al s; a me ns for ce l ina' h sedim n r a d he l r and, aid P p s a d. p eve t ng i a mu' et en in e "riicinity a said plug:

i. In a devi of th charac er d s rib the mhin tien w th a beiler a d a pa r o tand pip of diff ent l ngth ex ndin in o e ter h m of s id boile f a pipe connecting said-stand pipes at the bottoms; a pair of valves in said pipe for i p dently Op ning a le' i a i stand pipes; a fusible plug in .said pipe between said valves; means for Collecting the sediment from said boiler and said pipes and preventing its accumulation in the vi;

cinity of said plug; and means for draining off the sediment from said pipes.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with a boiler and a pair of stand pipes of different length extending into the Water chamber of said boiler, of a pipe adapted to connect said stand pipes at the bottoms; a pair of valves insaid pipe for independently opening and closing said stand pipes; a fusible plug in said pipe between said valves; a sediment drum connected with said pipe for collecting the sediment from said pipes; and a valve on said drum for draining the sediment therefrom.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination with a boiler and a pair of stand pipes of different length extending into the Water chamber of said boiler, of a Pipe adapt d. t c nn t aid Steed. P n s at'the b t ns; a p ir f val e in. said P pe for independently opening and closing said stand pipes; a fusible plug in said pipe be te he ate h mb r f'e i le of a P pefedapte to enne t s d tand pip et'the tt ns;.apai.r of va v s in ai p pe for independently opening and closingsaid stand p pes; a fusibl p ug n sa d pip etwe n Shier-el es; means. r c lle t g the sediment frol n saidboiler and said pipes;

mea s o ra i g e imen here rem'; a me ns for eeki g' th throttl valve lev r c sa b ler hen either t a d a i are e eed- '11. In a device of the character described, h mb ti n Wi h a bo l a Pai of stand pipes connected at their bottoms and.

ext ndi g int the Water ha er f i oiler a f ere t heigh and e p lity of lves. etween d s a d pip s, of a fusible this a pte t s at n a time d pt d t be secured in the pipe between said stand pipesmee in S id tube f pli t ng a pliig into a plurality of pieces in its dishe e from said tub an m an on h i er d f a d u e fer d ect ng the s char Plus tew rd the rou -I 2-? In t d iee of the ha eet r d i he e m i etiea of a le e pa of ta d p pe f di ent length ext ding n the Water chamber of said boiler; a pipe conneeting th lowe nd of sai stand P p a. pair'of valves in said pipe for opening a.nd"closingsaid stand pipes; a sediment drumin said pipe; a valve on said drum; a plug'mounting secured to said pipe between said pair of valves; a fusible plug in the inner end of said mounting; a pair of blades secured in and arranged at right angles across said mounting at the rear of said plug; a pair of ring segments adapted to seat in an annular groove on the outer end of said mounting; a collar adapted to engage and be held pii'otally on said mounting by said segments; an elbow adapted to be secured to the outer end of said collar and pivoted on said mounting; a pair of cables adapted to be connected at one end. to said pair of valves and at the other to springs secured to a suitable bracket on the frame of the vehicle; collars on the ends of cables when said pair of valves are closed, and thus prevent the opening of the throttle valve.

\VILLIAM C. BLUNDELL. Witnesses:

JAMES M. HULING, J. L. F LEMIXG. 

